Tubular construction material



NOV-

J, A. RAPPAPORT v TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Filed Oct. 26, 1923 sSheds-Sheet 2 anomboz Nov; 30 1926.

J. A. RAPPAPORT TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL Filed Oct. 26, 9

3' Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 30,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

.JACOIB A. BAPPAPOB'I', 01" BBOOKL YN, YO, ASSIGNOB TO RELIANCEFIREPBOOII' DOOR COMPANY, 01' BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION NEWYORK.

TUBULAR CONSTRUCTION KATERIAL.

Application fled October 88, 1922. Serial Io. 598,884.

My present invention relates to tubular construction materials,especially for the metal frames of doors, windows and the like. Suchtubular metal parts are often complicated, are comparatively difiicultto manufacture, and are rather expensive as ordinarily made. In somecases such tubular members cannot be conveniently fabricated at all, dueto the particular complicated shapes which such members may be requiredto possess.

It is an object of the invention to provide a metal tubular member forthe frames of doors, windows and the like, which can be manufacturedconveniently and cheaply, however complicated its form may be.

It is another object of the invention to provide a metal tubular memberfor the frames of doors, windows and the like,

2 which shall be made from extruded bronze,

or equivalent metal, in such a manner that the necessary partsconstituting the tubular member may be fabricated in a simple, accurateand expeditious manner, resulting in a superior product having anydesired cross section, however complicated, for use in a wide variety ofcases for which the much more expensive substitutes now offered for salewould not ordinarily be available.

In the accompanying specification I shall describe, and in the annexeddrawing show, several illustrative embodiments of the pres--ent-invention. It is, however, to be understood that my invention is notlimited to the illustrative embodiments thereof herein shown anddescribed for purposes of illustration only.

Referring to the drawings, wherein I have illustrated the aforesaidillustrative embodiments of the present invention:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one form of tubular constructioncomprising, in the present instance, a transom bar;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing another embodiment of the presentinvention, in the form of a transom sash to rail;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing still another embodiment of thepresent invention in the form of a sash stile;

Figure 4 is a similar view showing an embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a transom sash bottom rail;

Figure 5 is a similar view of another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a casement lower sash bottom rail;

Figure 6 is a similar view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of cooperating door stiles for swinging casementdoors;

Figure 7 is a similar view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a transom bar;

Figure 8 is a similar view of another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a hinge stile;

Figure 9 is a similar view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a top rail;

Figure 10 is a similar view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of an intermediate hinge stile;

Figure 11 is a similar view of another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of cooperating lower and upper sash meeting rails;

Figure 12 is a similar View of still another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a lower sash bottom rail;

Figure 13 is a similar view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a mullion; and

Figure 14 is a similar view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention in the form of a top rail.

Before describing the method and product of the present invention indetail, it may be desirable briefly to point out the shortcomings andthe disadvantages of the present state of the art to which the presentinven tion belongs. In making hollow tubular members for metal door andwindow constructions, according to the practice that has hithertorevailed, it has been customary to form suc tubular members of severalsections by welding, brazing, or some similarly diflicult and expensivemetal-joining process. The resulting product is not only expensive, butalso comparatively impractical, especially considering the greatnecessity of providing construction materials of the character set forthabove, which shall have long life and wear, and which shall possess thenecemary weatherproof properties. Certain forms in, which these productswere desired,

to be made could not be made at all by ex trading bronze or equivalentmetal in the usual way, nor by pressing the same out of steel.

By means of the present invention, the disadvantages pointed out aboveare sub stantially avoided, and numerous advantages of great commercialand mechanical value obtained.

Outlining, first, the method of the present invention, more or lessbriefly, the same comprises forming tubular construction materials ofthe general character specified above, in two, three, or more,cooperating sections. This may be lone by extruding bronze or equivalentmetal in the desired shapes. The cooperating sections are so arrangedthat certain of such sections are provided with one or more flanged orotherwise suitably shaped portions to cooperate with correspondinggrooves in the other section or sections. The cooperating sections maybe locked together by iuscrting the flanges of the one 5081 31011,

or sections into the corresponding grooves of the other section orsections. In this way, particularly as a result of the irregularitieswhich inevitably are to be found in the flanged portions of the tubularsection members and in the grooves of the cooperating tubular sectionmembers, the various sections will be securely locked together intubular form by their frictional contact, without the use of welding,brazing or other expensive metal-joining process.

Turning now 'to the various illustrative embodiments of the presentinvention, and referring more particularly to the embodiment shown inFigure 1 of the drawing, the transom bar comprising said illustrativeembodiment has the form of a hollow tubular member gencrallv designatedby reference character 10 and consisting of two tubular section members.designated by reference character 11 and 12*- respectively.

The tubular section member 11. which, like the tubular section member12*, may readily be made by extruding bronze or equivalent metal, isprovided with the upstanding flanges 13 and 14 of which the flange 14 isslightly wider than the flange 13 and is provided with the flange member15. Inthis way there is provided a recess 16F which it is desirable thatthe transom bar shall possess. The tubular section member 11 is providedwith the downwardly turned flanges 17 and 18 which cooperate with therespective angular flanges 19 and 20 respectively, for providing grooves21 and 22, for a purpose subsequently to be described in greater detail.

The remaining tubular section member 12*, there being in the embodimentnow being described but twosnch section members, is provided with aplurality of inwardly turned flanges 23 and 24 for cooperation with theflanged portions 17, 18, 19 and 20 definin the respective grooves 21 and22* of the tubular section member 11.

It may here be noted that in determining the shape to be given to thevarious tubular section members which are to be assembled to form thehollow tubular construction member, such a shape is chosen for eachmember as will enable the member to be readily made by extrudingbronzeor equivalent metal, and so that there will be as few tubular sectionmembers and as few joints as possible. The number of sections willdepend, of course, upon the particular cross- .section of the tubularmember to be constructed. The form which each section member shall havedepends also upon the neces sary forms or shapes of the flanges andcorresponding grooves, which should be distributed in such a way as toenable the tubular member to be readily fabricated and assembled so asto possess the maximum weatherproof and wearing qualities.

Two tubular section members 11" and 12 are joined by sliding the flanges23 and 24" into the respective grooves 21 and 22 of the section 11. Dueto the minute natural irregularities of the flanged portions 23 and 24and of the corresponding grooves 21 and 22, the two sections willclosely and tightly fit together to form a rigid weatherproof tubularmember, in this case, a transom bar, without the use of welding, brazingor other expensive metal-joining operation.

In Figure 2 I have shown a transom top rail, generally designated byreference character 10 and consisting of a section member 11*. providedwith the upstanding flange 12 and the flanged portions 13 and 14*cooperating with the corresponding angular flanges 15 and 16*,respectively, to form and define the respective grooves 17* and 18".Cooperating with the section member 11 is the section member 19 which isprovided with the angular flanged portions 20 and 21 for fitting intothe corresponding grooves 17 and 18, respectively. The manner ofassembling this tubular construction device, comprising a transom sashtop rail, will be clear from the detailed description of the transom bar10 appearing in the earlier portions of this specification. It may herebe noted that the section member 11 is provided with the integralweatherstrip 22* which is preferably of T-shaped cross-section.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawing wherein I have illustrated a sashstile, generally designated by reference character 10, the samecomprises a section member 11 provided with the upstanding flange 13 andthe flange portions 14 and 15 cooperating with the angular flangeportions 16 and 17. respectively, to define the respective grooves 18and 19. It will be noted that be noted that the section member 11 iseeann the flange member 15 has an extension in the form of an integralweather-strip 20. The section member 12 is provided with the angularflanged portions 21 and 22 for cooperation with the grooves 18 and 19 ofthe other section member 11. The manner of assembling this form of theinvention is the same as for the form shown in Figure 1 of the drawing,as set forth in detail above.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawing, I have here shown a transomsash bottom rail generally designated by reference character 10 andcomprising a tubular section member 11 and a tubular section member 12".The section 11 is provided with the upstanding flange 13 and the flangedportions 14 and 15 which cooperate with the respective flanges 16 and 17to define the respective grooves 18 and 19. It will tovided with anextension in the form 0 an inte ral weather strip 20".

The section member 12 is provided with the angular flanges 21 and 22cooperating with the respective grooves 18 and 19". The section member12" is also provided with the integral weather strip 23" which ispreferably of T-shaped cross-section. The manner of assembling thisdevice is the same as for the device shown in Figure 1 of the drawingand described in detail above.

It will be noted that in the form of invention shown in Figure 4 of thedrawing, each section member has two sides, as is also the case with themembers shown iniFigures 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, and 13; whereas, in thetubular members of the remaining figures of the drawing, such membersare made up of sections of which one forms but one side of the tubulardevice and the other member forms the remaining three sides of thedevice. It will also be noted that the tubular members thus fardescribed have been made up of two sections, which is true of all of thetubular devices shown in the drawings; although it is, of course, to beunderstood, that the tubular device may be made up of three or moresections, if desired or necessary.

Referring now to Figure 5 of the drawing, the device illustrated thereincomprises a casement lower sash bottom rail, generally designated byreference character 10, and consisting of the section members 11 and 12.The section member 11' includes the upstanding flange 13 and the flangedportions 14 and 15 cooperating with the angular flanges 16 and 17 todefinethe re-.

spective grooves 18 and 19. The section 11 also has the integral weatherstrip 20.

The section member 12 is provided with the angular flanges'21 and 22 for'coo 'ration with the respective grooves 18' an 19. The section member12 is provided with the integral flange 23' providing a recess- 24' whenthe tubular member is assembled in the manner described in detail abovefor the transom bar 10.

Referring to Figure 6 of the drawing, where I have shown the twocooperating door stiles of a pair of swinging casement doors, the stilegenerally indicated by reference character 10' comprises a sectionmember 11' which includes the flange members 12 and 13 defining a groove14. The section member 11 also includes the angular indentation 15 andthe integral weather strip 16. The member 11 is also provided with theangular flange 17 The section member 18 is provided with the flanged ede 19 for cooperating with the groove 14 and with the flanges 20 and 21defining between them the groove 22' for receiving the angular flangedportion '17 of the member 10'. v

The coo rating tubular member 10" is constructe substantially similarlyto the tubular member 10' and need not be further described here. Themanner of assembling the tubular members 10' and 10" will besubstantially clear from the description earlier in this specificationof the manner of assembling the transom bar 10".

In Figure 7 I have shown a member which may serve as a transom bar. Thismember, generally designated by reference character 10, comprises atubular section member 11 and a cooperating tubular section member 12.The member 11 comprises the flanged ortion 13, the flange being T-shapedand being cupped at the point 14 At its other end the section 11 isprovided with the angular flange 15 and the extension 16. It will benoted that the angular flange 15 defines a groove 17 for a purposesubsequently to be described in greater detail.

The cooperating section 12 is provided with the flanges 18 and 19defining between them a groove 20 for the reception of theT-shapedflange 13 At its other end the section 12 is provided with the angularflange 21 and the flanged portion 22 defining between them the groove 23for the reception of the angular flange 15 The manner of assembling thesections 11 and 12 in the fabrication of the tubular member 10" will besubstantially clear from the foregoing portions of the specificationdescribing the manner of assembling the transom bar 10".

In Figure 8 of the drawing I have shown a hinge stile, generallydesignated by reference character 10", and comprising the sections 11and 12". The section 11 comprises the flanged members 13 and 14 definingbetween them the groove 15*. At its other end the section 11 is providedwith the hooked flange portion 16 and the flange 17 h which includes anintegral weather strip 18. The'hooked flanged member 16 and the flange17 define between them a groove 19*.

The section 12 comprises the T-shaped flange for cooperation with thegroove 15 of the section 11 At its other end the section 12 includes theangular stepped flange portion 21.

- the drawing are respectively flanged portion 21 for cooperation withthe groove 19 of the section 11'. The manner of assembling this deviceand the advantages of. the same in use are the same as for the devicesdescribed in the previous portions of this specification.

The top. rail shown in Figure 9 of the drawing and designated byreference character 10 consists of a section 11 and a cooperatingsection 12. The section 11 ineludes the flanged members 13 and '14including between them the groove 15. At its other end the section 11 isprovided with the hooked flange member 16 and the flange 1'4" whichincludes, as an extension thereof, the integral weather strip 18. Themembers 16 and 17 define between them the groove 19. The section 12includes the T-shaped flange 20 and the angular stepped The flange 20cooperates with the groove 15 while the flange 21 cooperates with thegroove 19. Otherwise the manner of assembling this device and theadvantages of the same in use are the same as for the device describedin the earlier portions of this specification.

The intermediate hinge stile shown in Figure 10 of the drawing andgenerally designated by reference character 10 includes a section 11 andthe cooperating section 12 The section 11 com rises the flanged portions13 and 14 defining between them the groove 15. The section 11 isprovided with the integral channcledstrip 16 and the angular flange 17The section 12 is provided with the T- shaped flange 18 which cooperateswith the groove 15" of the section 11 and with the hook-shaped flange 19and the flanged portion 20 defining between them the groove 21 forcooperation with the flange 17 of the section 11 It will be noted herethat each of the sections has a flange and a groove for cooperating'withthe respective groove and flange of the other section. The manner ofassembling this device and the advantages of the same in use will besubstantially clear from the descriptions of the analogous devices inthe earlier portions of this specification.

The meeting rails shown in Figure 11 of designated by referencecharacters 10 and 10*. The meeting rail 10 comprises a section 11 and acooperating section 12". The section 11 is provided with the hookedflange portion l3 defining a groove 14". At its other end the section 10is provided with the integral flange 15, defining a groove 16", and with12" is generally upwardly. and outwardlyinclined and includes atongue-like extension 21 defining a groove 22*.

The other meeting rail 10 comprises-a section 11* and a.cooperating'section 12 The section 11* comprises the angular flange 13defining a groove 14*. At its otherend the section 11* includes theangular flanged portion 15" defining a groove 16*. The side 17" of thesection-11 is generally upwardly and outwardly inclined and includes atongue-like projection 18" defining a groove 19 The section 12 includesthe T-shaped indented flange portion 20* for cooperation with the groove16 The detailed features of this construction have been claimed in aco-pending application of mine filed of even date herewith and entitledMeeting rails for windows and the like, and need not therefore bedescribed in greater detail here. It is suflicient to state that themanner of assembling the meeting rails just described, and theadvantages of the same in use follow from their construction asillustrated, and will otherwise be apparent from the description of theother embodiments of this invention in the earlier portions of thisspecification.

The lower sash bottom rail illustrated in Figure 12 of the drawing andgenerally designated by reference character 10 comprises a section 11and a cooperating section 12. The section 11 is provided with theupstanding L-shaped flange 13 and with the flanges 14 and 15 cooperatingwith the hook-shaped flanges 16 and 17' to define the grooves 18 and 19respectively. The section 11 is furthermore extensions 19 and 20 Thecooperating section 12 has the central channeled and indented portions22 and 23 for cooperation with the respective grooves 18 and 19.Otherwise the manner of assembling this device and the advantages of thesame in use are the same as for the devices described in thecarlierportions of this specification.

The mullion shown in Figure 13 of the drawing and generally designatedby reference character 10 comprises the sections 11 and 12, of which thesection 11 coniprises the flanged portions 13" and 14 cooperating withthe hook-shaped flanged'portions 15? and 16 to define the respectivegrooves 17 and 18 The section 11" has the flange portion 19'".

The section 12 is provided with the angular flanges 20 and 21 forcooperation with the respective grooves 17 and 18 of provided with theNil) the section 11". The manner of assembling this device and theadvantages of the same 'm use are apparent or will readily suggest natedby reference character consists of the sections 11 and 12, of which thesection 11 is provided with the u standing L-shaped flange 13 and theflange portions 14 and 15 cooperating with the hookshaped portions 16and l7 for defining the respective grooves 18 and 19. The section 12 isprovided with the flanged portions 20 and 21 for cooperation with therespective grooves 18 and 19 of the section 11. The manner of assemblingthe device and the advantages of the same in use will be apparent fromthe descriptions in the earlier portions of this specification.

Summarizing the features of the above described embodiments of theresent invention, it is to be noted that am the first ,to make a tubularmetal construction material without the use of brazin Welding orsimilarly expensive and unsatis actory metaljoining operation. While Iprefer to use the method of extrusion for forming the various tubularsections, various other metal-working processes may be used for thispurpo:e, although I prefer to extrude the various sections of bronze orequivalent metal.

The' 'choice of the form for the various tubular sections cooperating toform the tubular members, depends upon the feasibility of extruding themetal where this process is used, as is preferred. It is also preferredthat the joints of the various sections shall be so arranged as to avoidexposing such joints to the weather. It is also preferred that thejoints shall be so located as to be as little visible as possible, thusgiving the device a more neatand finished appearance.

The advantages of the foregoing constructions are that their fabricationsaves much time, labor and material, and results in a more rigidstructure without the use of welding, brazing or similar expensivemetaljoining processes. Furthermore, the various sections are lockedtogether and cannot separate even when subjected to unusual stralns andstresses, as during fires. Constructions using these materials are morecompact and more weatherproof than the competing niaterials hithertousedin their stead.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. A tubular member for metal window frames and the like, comprising aplurality of sectional elements at least one of which has a main webportion and at least one pair of cooperating flange portions disposedadjacent an edge of said main web portion and transversely thereto, oneof said flange portions having an ed e portion thereof turned inwardlytowards the cooperating flange portion to thus provide a channel, theother of said sectional elements having one or more flange portions eachextending transversely to the main web portion of said last-mentionedsectional element and fitting into said channel.

2. A member for metal window frames and the like, comprising a sectionalelement having a main body portion provided with a pair of cooperatingflange portions adjacent at least two of the laterally disposed portionsof said main body portion and disposed transversely thereto, one of theflange portions of each pair of cooperating flange portions having anedge portion thereof turned inwardly toward the cooperating flangeportion of the pair, the edge portions of at least two such pairs ofcooperating flange portions being turned away from each other.

3. A member for metal window frames and the like, comprising a sectionalelement having a main body portion provided with a pair of cooperatingflange portions adjacent at least two of the laterally disposed portionsof said main body portion to thus provide a plurality of channels, oneof the flange portions of each pair of cooperating flange portionshaving an edge portion thereof turned inwardly toward the cooperatingflange portion of the pair, the edge portions of at least two such pairsof cooperating flange portions being turned away from each other, incombination with acooperating sectional element having a main body portion and a plurality of flange portions extending transversely to suchmam body portion of said last-mentioned sectional element and fittinginto said channels.

In testimony, whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this30th day of September, 1922.

JACOB A. RAPPAPORT.

